2024 dates:
21-22 September
Our unique, intensive 2-day course to learn about sustainable beekeeping in practice, developed and delivered by the Bees for Development team.
The Course is suitable for both beginners and intermediate beekeepers. The focus is on honey bee biology and how you can create the conditions for bees to thrive. All the sessions are based on robust and up to date scientific evidence, alongside decades of experience keeping and observing bees with minimal stress and no chemical treatments. We present a range of beekeeping systems and help you choose the right one for you.
We typically run this course with a student to tutor ratio of 3 to 1.
The course is at Ragman's Lane Farm, a 60 acre organic permaculture farm established over 30 years ago in the Forest of Dean.
Course content:
- Meet the bees - a hands-on look at honey bee colonies housed in different hives
- The natural life-cycle of honey bees - honey bee biology and ecology
- Being a beekeeper - what does keeping bees really mean?
- The relationship between bees and flowers - pollination, plants and biodiversity
- Keeping bees healthy - what to do and when to act
- Making and building low-cost hives - practical demonstration
- Warre's People's hive, horizontal top-bar hives, frame hives: we look at each and help you choose which system is best for you and for your bees
- Appreciating honey, beeswax and propolis
- Beekeeping and sustainability - what does the future hold?
Saturday - 9.30am to 5pm // Sunday - 9.30am to 4pm
If you are in need of overnight accommodation we can vouch for the hospitality offered by Hillary at Broome Farm and by Sheila and Guy at Lower Wythall.
A delicious homemade lunch will be provided, as well as tea and coffee during breaks.
Reviews:
"A good balance of practical learning and information in an easy to digest way. The food was lovely and plentiful, and the venue superb - with a great range of hives to see on display and in the apiary.Friendly and helpful, thank you!"
"Thank you for an inspirational weekend in a beautiful setting with lovely people. I go away with more confidence to trust bees' natural knowledge"